Norfolk City Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Gordon, Margaret L. March 31, 1997
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Diane Renfrow dianel14@gmail.com February 16, 2013, 3:36 pm

Virginian-Pilot, The (Norfolk, VA) - Wednesday, April 2, 1997 
Margaret L. Gordon died March 31, 1997. 

A native of Norfolk and devoted member of First Baptist Church, she was the
daughter of the late Daniel D. and Mary E. Gordon, who were faithful members of
First Baptist Church. She was a lady of many ``firsts.'' In the church, she was
the first woman elected to the Trustee Board and served with distinction as its
secretary. In the City of Norfolk she was the first woman, black or white, to be
appointed principal of a secondary school by the Norfolk City School Board.

An honor graduate of Booker T. Washington High School, she held degrees from
Virginia State University and Howard University and had done further study in
school administration at the University of Chicago, Northwestern University,
Cornell University, New York University and the University of Wisconsin.
Beginning her teaching career at John T. West Elementary School, she quickly
advanced up the educational ladder and became principal of Douglas Park,
Smallwood and R.A. Tucker Elementary Schools before assuming the principalship
of Jacox Junior High School. While serving as principal, she found time to teach
evening classes at Norfolk State University and graduate courses in Virginia
State College, Petersburg. As an active member of the National Association of
Secondary School Principals, she appeared on programs in Portland, Ore. and
Chicago.

Under her leadership as the first principal of Jacox Jr. High School, many
people were trained and promoted to executive positions and to positions as
principals and assistant principals in the Norfolk City School System. In
addition, she led the faculty in pioneering successful educational experiments
in many areas; among them, educational television, team teaching, and the
teaching of reading by teachers in all disciplines.

A retired Norfolk State University associate professor of secondary education,
Margaret Gordon in 1982 traveled, upon invitation, with members of the Norfolk
Mayor's Delegation of Elected Officials to Norfolk's sister city, Norwich,
England, as part of Norfolk's Tricentennial Celebration.

Active in the community, she served as a member of the board of directors of
Norfolk Community Hospital, the Tidewater Children's Foundation, the Norfolk
Chamber of Commerce and Iota Omega Chapter, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Her
service to the community and to the field of education has not gone unnoticed
for she has been honored by the American Association of University of Women,
which she was a member for many years. Other well-known organizations also
praised Margaret for her contributions, such as, the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity,
Bachelor Benedict Social Club, Les Superbes Club, Howard University, Norfolk
State University, Delta Alumni Sigma Theta Sorority and by a listing in the
first edition of Who's Who of American Women.

Margaret served as co-chairperson of the History and Archives Committee, the
committee responsible for maintaining the First Baptist Church Archives Room and
writing the history of First Baptist Church of Bute Street. She was a member of
the Dorcas Class, the Do All We Can Club and the women's chorus of First Baptist
Church of Bute Street.

Of the survivors she leaves to mourn seven cousins, Mrs. Christine Williams,
Mrs. Laura Imes, Mrs. Maggie Giddings, Mrs. Herbert Stewart of Hampton, Mrs.
Majara Randolph of New York; a cousin, Stanley Barrett Jr. of Norfolk and
Arviette Stewart of Hampton; adopted sister, Ruth Swan; and devoted godson,
James A. Harris Jr.

A funeral will be conducted at noon Thursday in First Baptist Church of Bute
Street by Dr. Robert Murray. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery . The body will
be placed in church at 9:30 a.m. Thursday. An AKA Sorority service will be held
from 10 to 11 a.m. at the church. Family and friends will assemble at Hale
Funeral Home at 11:15 a.m. for the funeral procession to the church. 

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